Across the West, pronghorn still migrate more than 150 miles between seasonal ranges. Monarch butterflies travel thousands of miles across the continent, generation by generation. In cold mountain forests, Canada lynx must move to find prey. In south Florida, panthers dodge highways and development just to survive. In rivers from the Pacific coast to inland headwaters, salmon need an open path from ocean to stream to complete their life cycle.

These species share one thing in common: their survival depends on movement.

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Paul Jeffery/Alamy Stock Photo

Migrating Coho salmon

Congress recently introduced the Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity Conservation Act, or Corridors Act, to give wildlife more room to roam on public lands by connecting the habitats essential to their survival. Protection without connection is not enough.

National parks, wildlife refuges, forests and public lands safeguard some of the best remaining wildlife habitat in the country.…